Winthrop University Joins the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), Advancing Practice-Based Leadership in Education (06/17/25)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Beth Costner, dean of Winthrop's Richard W. Riley College of Education, Sport and Human Sciences, said that as the university moves closer to launching its doctoral program in leadership and innovation, its inclusion in the CPED Network marks an important milestone.
• Winthrop and the 13 other institutions join a national network of CPED members working to redesign professional practice preparation in education, with the goal of better serving students and communities across the PK-20 continuum and beyond.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) welcomes Winthrop University and 13 other new institutions to its growing consortium of over 160 colleges and universities dedicated to transforming the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree.

Winthrop will begin offering its first doctoral degree this fall. Beth Costner, dean of Winthrop's Richard W. Riley College of Education, Sport and Human Sciences, said that as the university moves closer to launching its doctoral program in leadership and innovation, its inclusion in the CPED Network marks an important milestone. "This affiliation will enrich our program by providing access to research-based best practices in Ed.D. program design and delivery," Costner said. "It also offers our students a vibrant community of scholars and practitioners with whom they can share their work, exchange ideas and grow together as leaders committed to transformative change."

Besides Winthrop, the newly added member institutions are: Arkansas State University, Baruch College, College of Charleston, Eastern University, Endicott College, Fairfield University, Maryville University, Montclair State University, North Carolina Central University, Northeastern Illinois University, Sam Houston State University, University La Verne and University of Utah.

Winthrop and the 13 other institutions join a national network of CPED members working to redesign professional practice preparation in education, with the goal of better serving students and communities across the PK-20 continuum and beyond.

"Welcoming these 14 new institutions marks an exciting moment for CPED," said Jill A. Perry, executive director of CPED. "Each brings a distinct voice and commitment to transforming leadership in education. Together, we're not just redesigning a degree-we're reshaping how leaders are prepared to tackle real-world challenges with equity, innovation and impact at the forefront."

As part of CPED, member institutions engage in a vibrant professional learning community that supports faculty, students and administrators through national dialogue, collaborative inquiry and shared feedback. Together, they aim to strengthen the rigor, relevance and impact of Ed.D. programs, preparing graduates to lead meaningful, transformative change in education.

CPED continues to lead the way in advancing practice-based doctoral education by promoting the development of scholarly practitioners who integrate theory, research and real-world experience to address pressing educational challenges.

About CPED

The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) is a collaborative network of colleges and schools of education focused on improving the Ed.D. by making it a degree that is relevant for practitioners and impactful for professional practice. Founded in 2007, CPED supports a dynamic and expanding network of institutions dedicated to improving PK-20 education and the systems that sustain it.

For more information, contact Lisa Harris, program director for Winthrop, at harrisl@winthrop.edu.